Siding installation tool

Abstract

A siding installation tool for support pieces of siding and act as a guide to facilitate consistent alignment of the siding being installed includes a clamp assembly coupled to an extendable guide assembly. The clamp assembly is lockable to a piece of siding and the guide assembly is adjustably extendable from the clamp assembly to support a second piece of siding for installation.

1. A siding installation guide tool comprising:
 a clamp assembly, said clamp assembly having closable jaws whereby said clamp assembly is adapted for coupling to a first piece of siding; 
 a guide assembly having a support member, said support member having a bearing portion whereby said support member is adapted for supporting a second piece of siding adjacent to the first piece of siding when said clamp assembly is coupled to the first piece of siding, said guide assembly being slidably coupled to said clamp assembly such that said support member is positionable at a selectable distance from said clamp assembly; 
 wherein said guide assembly includes a collar member coupled to said clamp assembly; and 
 said guide assembly further including an extension member slidably inserted through said collar member. 
 
   
   
     2. The siding installation guide tool of  claim 1  wherein said clamp assembly includes a stop plate coupled to one of said jaws for abutting the first piece of siding to facilitate consistent placement of the first piece of siding between said jaws. 
   
   
     3. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  wherein said clamp assembly has a locking assembly for locking said jaws in place. 
   
   
     4. The siding installation tool of  claim 3  wherein said locking assembly is adjustable for setting a distance between said jaws when said clamp assembly is in a closed position. 
   
   
     5. The siding installation tool of  claim 4  wherein said locking assembly includes a screw member for adjusting said distance between said jaws when said clamp assembly is in said closed position. 
   
   
     6. The siding installation tool of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an annular member coupled to said clamp assembly whereby said clamp assembly is adapted for being hung from said annular member, said annular member being coupled to said screw member for facilitating rotating said screw member. 
 
   
   
     7. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an annular member coupled to said clamp assembly whereby said clamp assembly is adapted for being hung from said annular member. 
 
   
   
     8. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said jaws includes a protective covering material for inhibiting marring of the first piece of siding. 
   
   
     9. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said guide assembly including a locking means coupled to said collar member for selectively locking said extension member into a static position relative to said collar member. 
 
   
   
     10. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  wherein said support member includes a distal flange extending from said bearing portion whereby said guide assembly is adapted for holding the second piece of siding against a structure while said bearing portion supports the second piece of siding. 
   
   
     11. The siding installation tool of  claim 10  wherein said distal flange has an outwardly flared edge for facilitating insertion of the second piece of siding between said support member and the structure. 
   
   
     12. The siding installation tool of  claim 10  wherein said distal flange includes a protective covering material on an interior face of said distal flange for inhibiting marring of the second piece of siding. 
   
   
     13. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  wherein said jaws include an upper jaw and a lower jaw, said lower jaw having a beveled distal edge for facilitating insertion of said lower jaw between the first piece of siding and a structure. 
   
   
     14. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  wherein said extension member is arcuate. 
   
   
     15. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  wherein said closable jaws each have a width of about 3 inches. 
   
   
     16. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  wherein a conduit extending through said collar receives said extension member, said conduit being angled relative to said clamp assembly whereby said collar is adapted for preventing gaps from forming between said support member and an upper portion of the first piece of siding. 
   
   
     17. The siding installation tool of  claim 1  wherein said clamp assembly includes a handle portion, said handle portion extending away from said closable jaws at an angle between about 35 and 50 degrees for facilitating grasping of said handle portion during use. 
   
   
     18. A siding installation guide tool comprising:
 a clamp assembly, said clamp assembly having closable jaws whereby said clamp assembly is adapted for coupling to a first piece of siding; 
 a guide assembly having a support member, said support member having a bearing portion whereby said support member is adapted for supporting a second piece of siding adjacent to the first piece of siding when said clamp assembly is coupled to the first piece of siding, said guide assembly being slidably coupled to said clamp assembly such that said support member is positionable at a selectable distance from said clamp assembly; and 
 wherein said guide assembly includes an extension member slidably mounted to said clamp assembly, said extension member being arcuate. 
 
   
   
     19. The siding installation tool of  claim 18  wherein said extension member arcs toward said closable jaws of said clamp assembly. 
   
   
     20. The siding installation tool of  claim 18  wherein said extension member is arcuate in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of one of said closable jaws of said clamp assembly.